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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rhialto" data-source="post: 402401" data-attributes="member: 630">Hey, I'm well aware of John XXII's rather corrupt ways--though he remains a fascinating figure.  Simultaneously money-grubbing and mystical, he's a hard man to place in all this.  However, I have to point out that the move to Avignon, while heavily influenced by the French Crown (and engineered by John himself), was not quite the corrupt action that people have potrayed it as.  While mildly debasing the Pope's authority in some quarters--mostly England and the Holy Roman Empire, which had always been rebellious--the truth of the matter was that the Popes moved in part because the situation in Rome was a mess--constant warfare, collapsing buildings, and an indefensible city that had been taken over so many times under their watch that it was starting to get habitual...As for Benedict--in two years he'll be Pope.  John is getting older, and is increasingly preoccupied with theological matters, most especially the Beatific Vision.  In two years, he'll be dead.  At the moment, he's facing heavy opposition from the Franciscan Spirituals, and the Holy Roman Emperor.  More and more of his work is being done by subordinates, and Benedict is among the most trusted of these, as John is one of those corrupt men who like to have at least one honest man around...Also it must be pointed out that it was PHILIP IV was the one who destroyed the Templars, something Clement wound backing against his better judgement.  (Mostly because Philip had moved to fast for him to do anything to stop it.)  And a major force behind Philip was--the future John XXII. Which makes him refounding the order a little odd...</blockquote>

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